polwarden ← Back to 2026-04-15 briefingSatellite Coverage
Summary
Satellite analysis fresh (latest 2026-04-15 15:07:52 UTC).
Why this matters
Activity at military sites — vehicle movement, construction, equipment staging — can indicate preparation, rotation, or capability changes.
What we saw
SAR data indicates normal activity at Millerovo airbase. The VV polarization is slightly elevated, and the VH/VV ratio suggests minimal changes in surface roughness or vegetation.
The Engels-2 strategic airbase shows a moderate change in SAR radar data, with a VV change of -1.3 dB and a VH/VV ratio of -7.7 dB. The runway appears clear, and there are a few vehicles visible, suggesting a low level of activity.
SAR data indicates normal activity at the Sevastopol naval facility. The polarimetric ratio suggests no significant changes in surface roughness or orientation.
Significant SAR change (VV -4.4 dB) and a low VH/VV polarimetric ratio (-13.5 dB) suggest increased activity at the Klintsy staging area. This could indicate the arrival of vehicles and equipment.
The satellite image of Baranovichi Air Base shows a clear runway and low vehicle concentration. SAR data indicates normal activity levels.
The SAR data indicates normal activity at the Osipovichi storage facility. The vehicle concentration appears low, and no aircraft are visible.
SAR data indicates normal activity at the Severomorsk-NorthFleet facility. The polarimetric ratio suggests limited scattering from complex structures, potentially indicating a lack of significant vehicle movement or deployment.
How sure we are
Last data: 2026-04-18 15:06 UTC
Basis: Sentinel-2 optical + Sentinel-1 SAR (revisit ~5 days)
Limitation: Cloud cover can block optical imagery. SAR provides backup but lower interpretability.
How we know
We analyze Sentinel-2 optical imagery (10m resolution) and Sentinel-1 SAR radar of monitored military sites. Changes are detected by comparing current imagery against seasonal baselines.
Primary source: Copernicus Sentinel-2 / Sentinel-1